Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-03
THE CHAMPIONS BELT.
TROPHIES WHICH HAVE CIR
DIED GREAT RS.
How Golden Belts Came to be Sign OF
supremacy and the Championship
John l.. suiIivsn's Circle of Jewels.
From the Neao York S'ar.

atical of the worlds championship at
sparrlng or prize fighting, brings to mind
some of the trophies which have been
given TO great athletes who have lived in
the long ago. There have been emblems
which represented nothing more than the
personal admiration for the recipient, and
in one or two instances the athlete has
made himself a present OF the trophy,
which was supposed to carry with it the
title of champion of somewhere or the
other.
Pugilistic history shows that mauy
belts have been awarded as marks OF APP
probation of certain mems prowess or
pluck, while other guerdOns have been
given as sort Of badge, which should
designate who was the real champion or
head OF the profession. Unfortunately
Pierce Egan is silent on the value OF these
belts, so That 1t is purely matter OF con-
lecture as TO what they were worth.
The first mention of Il belt AS symbolic
cal Of the boxing championship was made
to Thomas Crib, who flourlsned IN the
early part of the present century. CrIbbs
belt being the first was necessarily oil the
admiration order. 1t came from the no.
blity and some wealthy admirers, among
WuOnl were zimmerman dChbOns
retired champion, and George Ill, In
addition to this belt Tom Crib was pre-
scented with many other tokens of admlra-
ton, but the greatest honor ever shown
this British pugilist was when he was
made page at the coronation OF George
W., July 10, 1921. Crib and Tom Spring,
a latter-day champion, We're the guards
at the entrance of Westminster Hall.
One of the staunchest friends of Tom
CRIB was Lord Gwydys, who gave din
ner 10 the pugihSts and then presented
them with gold medals. One or the MIS-
lorical things connected with Tom Cribb's
belt was that it was the outcome Of his
international battle with Thomas M0li-
neauX, an American negro WHO went to
England to DO battle with CriDb. How
the American was treated Is Il matter OF
opinion. The English authorizes say that
he was outfOugnJ, but some eyewltnesses
are outspoken in their opinion that Moli-
neauX did not receive fair play.
So much did the English people think
of Crib that they erected a monument to
him in Woolwich churchyard. 1t is liou
standing erect on a rock, with his paw on
an urn. The lion is supposed to be griev-
ing over the ashes OF British hero.
Tom Spring, who was pupil OF Crib
and followed him, was the recipient of
many cups, but no belt was presented to
Spring, VINO many claim was the founder
OF the real scientific style of boxing. He
came from a tirst-class family and was
far better educated than most athletes OF
his time.
The next belt that 'Fistiana'' treats of
was that which was presented to Jem
Ward, whose lighting career was between
the years 1924 and 1885. This athlete be-
gan under very bad tutelage, and one of
Gohto q aWinnIn Ward
having sold out to the opposition. This
almost ended his career as pugilist, but
he finally fought his way to the front, and
by defeating every one redeemed his lost
prestige and SO endeared himself TO the
lovers of fair play that he was deemed
worthy of a champions belt.
In addition 10 his pusiiist1c talent Ward
was an artist Of no mean callbre, and
many OF his pictures were exhibited in
the English exhibitions. The picture
when made him most famous is the bat
tie between Tom Sayers and John e. Hee.
nan at Marlborough twenty-seven years
ago. Ward lived to a good old age (S0),
but he died in straitened circumstances
and was an inmate OF the Licensed VIC
tualers' Asylum in London at the time of
his demise. Miss Eleanor Ward, a
daughter OF Jem w ard, made name in
the musical world. she was pupil OF
Sir Jules Benedict and was said TO have
been a splendid pianlste.
The belt given to Jem Ward was his
own property when he retired from the
ring, but the old war horse banded it TO
William Thompson Bendigo) who was
a champion after Ward had retired.
Thompson fourished between the years
1885 and 1915. One of the strangest things
connected with this athletes lie was
that he was one of three children at a
birth. and as twins and triplets are sup
posed to be the emboditcatiOn of weak
ness, he was living refutaliOn to this an
cient saw, as VIM. Thompson was most
powerful and symmetricaiy built man.
lie came from good family and it is said
was educated for the ministry. Why he
was called "Bendigo" no one seems to
was because be was so supple in his body
and limbs that he could bend i'll any shape
he desired.
This elasticity cost him one or two
fights, as his shifty sty 10 in getting down
TO avoid punishment caused his disquali-
ticatiou on more than one occasion. He
was very scientific pugillst, but did not
ike TO get hurt or have his beauty spoiled.
After fighting all the great pugilists OF
hls day Thompson retired and really
Joined the church, doing good service
dmNuS bh6 louSu SdSh Vi l1buuOH.
His death was brought about by u sad
accident. He fell down the stairs of his
own house, breaking three ribs. TIE long
splinter of one OF them penetrated one OF
IhOmpson's lungs. What became of this
champions belt is not known.
The next championship trophy given TO
the leading pugilist OF his time was a sub
scription belt presented To Nicholas w ard,
y brother OF James ard, already spoken
about. This WAS the first transferable
belt ever made, and many claim that il is
the one now in the possession OF Jem Mace;
but this is a mistake. Nick Wards claim
TO a niche in the line OF belt holders is at
best tlimsy one, but as he was IA cham
pion he cannot be passed over. Many
think tnat he was deficient in the most
essential qualifications of prize lighter
namely, pluck.
The belt which TOM Sayers won when
he defeated William Perry, the Tipton
altogether, and 10 was destined to become
the most celebrated thing OF its Kind ever
seen. Sayers kept TINS belt for a long
while, but the outcome OF his fight with
John q. Heenan caused him 10 part with
the trophy. Those VINO follow up pugi-
listic matters will doubtless remember
that this fight ended in draw, and as
the referees decision made one man as
good es the other each was entitled to a
share OF the belt, IL was proposed 10 cut
the belt IN two and join two new halves
To IL, go that eacn com Blatant should have
halt of the trophy. Then 10 was proposed
to make two new fac slmIies of the die.